UX Terms Every Non-Technical Founder Must Know
- Bennie Mboto
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
Ever felt like your design team is speaking an alien language? Terms like “user flows,” “information architecture,” and “heuristics” are flying around, and you're left smiling and nodding, hoping no one notices you're lost. As a non-technical founder, navigating the world of UX can feel overwhelming. But here's the good news: you don’t need to be a design expert to make smart, user-centered decisions. You just need to understand the basics.
This guide breaks down the 14 essential UX terms every non-technical founder must know, so you can confidently collaborate with your team, enhance your product, and boost user satisfaction.
User Experience (UX)
User Experience (UX) refers to the overall experience users have when interacting with your product. It includes aspects like usability, accessibility, and emotional satisfaction. it's about how users feel when using your product, not just what they see. A great UX keeps users happy and coming back for more. Learn how to maintain UX consistency for your product
User Interface (UI)
User Interface (UI) focuses on visual and interactive elements of your product, such as buttons, menus, forms, and typography. A well-designed UI ensures seamless interactions and enhances usability, contributing to a positive user experience.
User Research
User research is the process of understanding your target audience’s needs, pain points, motivations, and behaviours. This process involves interviews, surveys, usability testing, and data analysis. Effective user research ensures your design decisions are user-centred, enhancing usability and satisfaction. Guide to conducting user-friendly interviews
Personas
Personas are fictional but data-driven profiles representing different user types. They help you empathise with your audience by outlining their needs, goals, and frustrations. With well-defined personas, your design team can make decisions that address your audience’s needs.
Wireframes
Wireframes are low-fidelity sketches or digital blueprints that outline the structure and layout of a webpage or app screen. They focus on functionality and navigation rather than visual design, making them a crucial step in the early stages of product development.
Prototypes
Prototypes are interactive, high-fidelity models of your product used for testing and gathering feedback before full-scale development. They simulate the user experience, allowing you to identify issues early and validate concepts effectively.
Usability Testing
Usability testing involves observing real users perform specific tasks on your product. The goal is to uncover usability issues and pain points. Gathering feedback from real users allows you to improve the product’s overall experience before launching.
Information Architecture (IA)
Information Architecture refers to the organisation, structuring, and labelling of content within your product. Good IA ensures users can easily find information and navigate the interface, enhancing usability and satisfaction.
Accessibility
Accessibility is about designing products everyone can use effectively, including those with disabilities. This involves considering colour contrast, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility. Making your product accessible ensures inclusivity and improves your overall user base.
User Flows
User flows are a representation of the steps users take to complete specific tasks within your product. By mapping these journeys, you can identify friction points and streamline processes for efficiency and satisfaction.
Journey Mapping
Journey mapping is a detailed visualisation of your user’s end-to-end experience with your product. It highlights interactions, emotions, pain points, and opportunities for improvement. Analysing user journeys helps you enhance the overall experience.
Call-To-Action (CTA)
A Call-To-Action is a prompt designed to encourage users to take a specific action, such as “Sign Up,” “Buy Now,” or “Learn More.” Effective CTAs are clear, compelling, and strategically placed to drive conversions.
Service Blueprint
A Service Blueprint is a comprehensive diagram mapping your user’s journey alongside the underlying systems and processes supporting their experience. This tool helps you identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement in your product or service.
Design System
A Design System is a collection of reusable design components, guidelines, and standards that ensure consistency across your product. It accelerates development and maintains visual coherence, making scaling and updating your product easier.
Conclusion: Empowering Your UX Journey
Understanding these UX terms is just the beginning of your journey toward creating exceptional digital products. By familiarising yourself with this vocabulary, you'll be better equipped to participate in design discussions, provide meaningful feedback, and make informed decisions that prioritise your users' needs.
Working with AIENAI as your UX partner.
When working with AIENAI as your UX partner, we ensure we prioritise helping our non-technical founder clients understand these UX terms and concepts. An educated client makes for better collaboration and ultimately superior products. Our team takes the time to explain complex UX concepts in accessible language, guiding you through each phase of the design process while building your confidence and knowledge.
By partnering with AIENAI, you'll not only receive exceptional UX design services but also gain valuable insights and education that will serve your business long-term. We're committed to empowering founders with the knowledge they need to make user-centered decisions that drive growth and satisfaction.
Take the first step toward UX fluency today, and your users (and bottom line) will thank you.
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